Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda Experience - Independent

Days

4

Price from

$5,422CAD

Journey through the misty jungles of Rwanda and catch families of Mountain Gorillas playing, relaxing and eating in the foliage.

Trekking through the Rwandan jungle can be a strenuous experience, however the reward of coming face to face with a family of gorillas is a memory that will stay with you forever. After a night spent in our lodge, nestled in the scenic slopes of the Sabinyo Volcano, hike through thick bamboo forest, alpine moorland and dense jungle to the habitat of one of ten mountain gorilla families. Sit quietly and wait for these magnificent creatures to emerge from the wilderness – a truly breathtaking moment.

Independent Experiences
Independent travel, without the stress. Peregrine’s Independent Experiences are a range of short packages that you can add to other Experiences or as an extension to a longer tour, to craft your perfect holiday itinerary. Independent Experiences are for 1-3 travellers, depart daily and offer the back-up of Peregrine, our local offices and expert resident guides.

Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda Experience - Independent

Journey through the misty jungles of Rwanda and catch families of Mountain Gorillas playing, relaxing and eating in the foliage.

Trekking through the Rwandan jungle can be a strenuous experience, however the reward of coming face to face with a family of gorillas is a memory that will stay with you forever. After a night spent in our lodge, nestled in the scenic slopes of the Sabinyo Volcano, hike through thick bamboo forest, alpine moorland and dense jungle to the habitat of one of ten mountain gorilla families. Sit quietly and wait for these magnificent creatures to emerge from the wilderness – a truly breathtaking moment.

Independent Experiences
Independent travel, without the stress. Peregrine’s Independent Experiences are a range of short packages that you can add to other Experiences or as an extension to a longer tour, to craft your perfect holiday itinerary. Independent Experiences are for 1-3 travellers, depart daily and offer the back-up of Peregrine, our local offices and expert resident guides.

BOGO Asia Adventure Cruising

Bring a travel companion for free when you book select Asia Adventure Cruises before November 30th.

BOGO Asia Adventure Cruising

Bring a travel companion for free when you book select Asia Adventure Cruises before November 30th.

Terms & Conditions
Applies to 2 customers booking and travelling together sharing a cabin on Asia Adventure Cruising departures in December 15, 2018 - February 28, 2019 only.
BOGO offer can only be booked by calling 1 855 832 4859 if you are in the United States or 1-800-663-5132 if you are in Canada. It can also be booked by contacting the Peregrine Adventures team on live chat. The dark blue Live Chat icon can be found in the bottom right-hand corner of this page.
This offer will not be applied if you book online.
Offer applies to trip codes PACK, PATM, PAPI, PACIC, PAKIC.
May not be combined with any other offer. All other standard booking conditions continue to apply.
Standard Booking Conditions
The offer applies to bookings made between November 7 - 30, 2018, and is for trips departing in December 15, 2018 - February 28, 2019.
The offer applies to trip codes PACK, PATM, PAPI, PACIC, PAKIC. See the 'Important Notes' section of our 'Trip Notes' or contact our sales staff if you are unsure if your desired trip is excluded.
The trip is subject to availability and confirmation by Peregrine Adventures at time of booking.
A deposit of $600 is required at the time of booking.
Full payment is required at least 56 days prior to travel. If booking and travelling with less than 56 days to go until departure, full payment is needed at the time of booking.
There will be no extensions to the booking, travel or payment periods.
The offer can only be applied to new bookings. Under no circumstances will the discounts be applied to existing bookings.
The offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other offers.
The offer cannot be applied to airfares, trip kitties, travel insurance, extra accommodation, single supplements, visas, etc.
Peregrine Adventures Booking Conditions will also apply to the trip booked and it is imperative that you examine those conditions before booking with Peregrine Adventures. The most up-to-date Booking Conditions are accessible at https://www.peregrineadventures.com/booking-terms-and-conditions.
As outlined in the Peregrine Adventures Booking Conditions, travel insurance is compulsory for all Peregrine Adventures travellers and should be taken out prior to or at the time of booking. See the Booking Conditions for more details.
Trip prices and itineraries are subject to change at any time, including after booking. If there is a significant price change to a trip that is outside the control of Peregrine Adventures (i.e. a significant increase in third party service provider costs), travelers may need to be re-invoiced at the new price. Promotions and discounts will still apply to the new price.

Why you'll love this trip

Come face-to-face with rare mountain gorillas on the ultimate wildlife adventure. Trek through Rwanda's steamy jungle and spend an unforgettable hour in the presence of these majestic creatures.

Stay in a boutique hotel nestled at the foot of the stunning Virunga Mountains. Get ready for breath-taking views.

Discover a different, darker side to the country at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre – a place to learn about and reflect on the atrocities the Rwandan people faced in the mid-90s.

Is this trip right for you?

Tracking gorillas in the dense forest can sometimes be wet, muddy and uncomfortable. The terrain is by no means easy either, so it can be pretty strenuous and often humid. But the sheer thrill in coming across a habituated group of gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, more than outweighs any difficulty. You need to be prepared and fit enough to walk up to 4 hours - up and down hill. Perhaps pack some gardening gloves to assist in any up-hill climbs.

Although this is an Independent Experience, your gorilla trek will be a shared activity. You will be accompanied by other travellers, with a maximum of 8 people per gorilla family, plus your guides.

Our Independent Experiences have been designed for just one to three people, departing every day of the week for most Experiences. You can mix and match to create your perfect trip combination, then we’ll arrange the transport between each experience for you. You will have local guides at most destinations and activities. It’s independent travel without the stress.

Welcome to Rwanda. This Independent Experience starts at Kigali Airport where you will be met by our local representative. Please arrange to arrive in Kigali before 1pm – if your flight does not arrive before that time then you need to arrive one day earlier and book one night's pre-tour accommodation as well as an arrival transfer (these will be at an additional cost). Please read the visa information for Rwanda on your pre-departure information before you depart, as you're required to apply for your visa before arrival.
Upon your arrival you will visit the Genocide Museum, which was opened in 2004 to mark the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide. Whilst the genocide occurred as a result of a complex series of factors, it can only be seen as an absolute tragedy to Rwanda and its people. Time spent at the museum is sure to be emotionally moving, but it is an important way to understand the sheer courage and resilience of the people of this beautiful, tiny nation.
Then you travel towards the gorillas with a drive through the verdant rolling hills of Rwanda. You’ll be staying in the Musanze region (formerly Ruhengeri).
Hotel facilities include a pool, restaurant, bar & lounge with fireplace and incredible views of the Volcanoes.

The Volcanoes National Park is the oldest national park in Africa, and it was specifically created to protect the habitat of the gorillas.

Accommodation

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer

Kigali - Genocide Memorial Audio Guide

Kigali - Genocide Memorial Centre

Meals Included

Dinner

Special Information

An airport arrival transfer is included. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 15 days prior to travel so the transfer can be arranged.

After a very early start, drive to the park headquarters (approximately 30 minutes) where you’ll be briefed on the gorilla trek by the guides of Parc National des Volcans. Ten different gorilla families live here, in bamboo forest interspersed with alpine moorland, grassland and marshland. The groups include Group 13, Sabinyo, Amahoro, Umubano, Susa, Kwitonda (which has recently arrived from the DRC) and the Hirwa group, newly formed from different habituated families. Gorilla trekking is highly controlled, with only 80 gorilla trekking permits available each day. Once a trekking group encounters one of the gorilla families, only one hour is granted in the presence of the great apes before trekkers must leave, however reluctantly. Be aware that the trek can be strenuous and may reach altitudes of almost 3,000 metres above sea level. Depending on weather conditions, some of the paths can be slippery and these paths themselves can change depending on the location of the gorillas. Therefore it is very hard to predict how long you will need to walk for, but a very good level of fitness is recommended for this trek. It may take anything between 40 minutes and five hours to reach your designated gorilla family, but it’s more than worth it. The trackers will have already set out and located the gorilla family by the time you begin your trek, so your actual walking time can usually be predicted when you set off. You can usually get very close to the mountain gorillas, and watching their movements is like seeing a mirror image of yourself. Be mesmerised as you watch them eat, sleep, groom and play – the giant silverback surveying the scene as the smaller ones laze in the trees or play like children. As lunch can only be taken upon return to the hotel, it is recommended that you bring a few snacks to keep you going throughout the morning. At the end of the day the comforts of the hotel beckon, along with a chance to reflect on what is sure to be a truly memorable day.

Notes: Your gorilla trek will be a shared activity. You will be accompanied by other travellers, with a maximum of 8 people per gorilla group, plus your guides.

Accommodation

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Volcanoes National Park - Mountain gorilla trek & permit

Meals Included

You will have a number of optional activities today. It is possible to partake in an additional gorilla trek. However, this is subject to permit availability and must be pre-purchased in advance. For fans of the book and/or movie 'Gorillas in the Mist', the Dian Fossey Trek is anther good option. You’ll follow in Dian Fossey's footsteps on your way to her grave, as well as the graves belonging to many poached gorillas, including the famous Digit. Be guided around the incredible setting where Old Karisoke Research Station was set up and, although very little of the station remains, imagine the life that Dian Fossey led in these isolated mountains. For a more leisurely but equally memorable experience, trekking in search of golden monkeys is highly recommended. In June 2003 the National Parks Department first allowed permits to walk the trails in search of these rare and engaging primates. This walk will take you to the edge of the forest, where watching these unique monkeys play and interact is a mesmerising experience. After your experience today you will then travel back to Kigali (approximately 2 hours) late in the afternoon or early in the evening. Dinner tonight will be at your own expense and can be enjoyed at one of the many nearby restaurants.

Accommodation

Lemigo Hotel or similar (1 night)

Optional Activities

Volcanoes National Park - Dian Fossey's Memorial - USD90

Volcanoes National Park - Golden Monkeys Trek Permit & guide - USD115

Volcanoes National Park - Full Day Mt. Bisoke Hike - USD75

Volcanoes National Park - Nature walk Rwanda - USD55

Ruhengeri - Venge Village walk - USD35

Volcanoes National Park - Additional Gorilla Trek Permit - USD1870

Meals Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Special Information

If you are interested in the additional Gorilla Trek permit it is advised to pre-book this activity at time of purchase of the main tour, in order to ensure availability. Please note the prices of these options are not inclusive of transport costs to and from the activity. Please note that the roads leading to both of the above treks are not in the best condition, so be prepared for a rough and bumpy ride.

This morning you will be taken on a city tour of Kigali before being transferred to Kigali International Airport, arriving there before midday (approximately 1.5 hour drive).

Included Activities

Kigali - City Tour

Meals Included

Breakfast

Special Information

Your international departure flights from Kigali today should not be booked to depart before 1pm.

Inclusions

Meals

3 breakfasts,
2 lunches,
2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night),
Lodge (2 nights)

Included activities

Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer

Kigali - Genocide Memorial Audio Guide

Kigali - Genocide Memorial Centre

Volcanoes National Park - Mountain gorilla trek & permit

Kigali - City Tour

Meals

3 breakfasts,
2 lunches,
2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night),
Lodge (2 nights)

Included Activities

Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer

Kigali - Genocide Memorial Audio Guide

Kigali - Genocide Memorial Centre

Volcanoes National Park - Mountain gorilla trek & permit

Kigali - City Tour

Days

4

Price from

$5,422CAD

Journey through the misty jungles of Rwanda and catch families of Mountain Gorillas playing, relaxing and eating in the foliage.

Trekking through the Rwandan jungle can be a strenuous experience, however the reward of coming face to face with a family of gorillas is a memory that will stay with you forever. After a night spent in our lodge, nestled in the scenic slopes of the Sabinyo Volcano, hike through thick bamboo forest, alpine moorland and dense jungle to the habitat of one of ten mountain gorilla families. Sit quietly and wait for these magnificent creatures to emerge from the wilderness – a truly breathtaking moment.

Independent Experiences
Independent travel, without the stress. Peregrine’s Independent Experiences are a range of short packages that you can add to other Experiences or as an extension to a longer tour, to craft your perfect holiday itinerary. Independent Experiences are for 1-3 travellers, depart daily and offer the back-up of Peregrine, our local offices and expert resident guides.

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Important notes

MINIMUM AGE:
There is a minimum age of 15 years for the gorilla tracking. Please see trip notes (Important notes) for more details.

START AND FINISH TIMES:
An airport arrival transfer is included. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 15 days prior to travel. Please ensure you arrive into Kigali prior to 1pm on day 1. If you are unable to arrive by 1pm you will need to arrive a day earlier and book accommodation in Kigali.
4. This trip finishes in Kigali on day 4. Please do not book any flights until after 1pm this afternoon.

GORILLA PERMIT:
This trip requires an additional non-refundable deposit ( AUD2400, USD2400, EUR1800, NZD2700, GBP1500, CAD2400, ZAR20000, CHF2000 ) in order to secure a gorilla permit. We also require passport details at time of booking. Please see trip notes (Important notes) for more details.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.